One lonely night, three children were left out in the cold to be found by anyone willing to raise them. Abandoned and helpless, no logical person would have ever come to the conclusion that they were cast out into the world for their own safety, and to ensure the future of an entire realm.

Benjamin, Thomas, and Sebastian lead three different lives that lack similarity, only related by the sense that they don’t belong. When each are presented with a chance to escape their current predicament, they gladly grasp onto the opportunity after without much hesitation. Joining under the leadership of a mysterious boy named Peter, the trio begins to realize that running from their previous lives will not be as simple as they wished to believe, especially when otherworldly obstacles begin to arise.

Now fleeing for their survival, Benjamin, Thomas, and Sebastian find themselves transported into another world filled with trolls, goblins, nymphs, and a collection of other strange creatures. The boys learn from their appointed guardians that this land, once ruled by a just and noble king, has been overtaken by a rotten fraud determined to rule without opposition. Together, the three boys are prophesied to present the only hope of defeating the False King and avenging the kingdom of Abasin.

The Three Thorns by Michael Gibney tells of a fantastic journey filled with mystery, magic, and adventure. The diction sets the perfect mood for the context of the novel, and overall, I found it to be a pleasurable read.

While the book was entertaining, it did hold the essence of a children’s novel in some of the descriptions and character developments. However, as an older reader, it still held my attention. Four stars!

I would recommend The Three Thorns to those fans of The Chronicles of Narnia by C.S. Lewis, the Inkheart trilogy by Cornelia Funke, and the Iron Fey series by Julie Kagawa.

Happy Reading!

Kayla

FROM TANTRUM BOOKS

ABOUT THE THREE THORNS (THE BROTHERHOOD AND THE SHIELD #1):

Title: THE THREE THORNS (THE BROTHERHOOD AND THE SHIELD #1)

Publication date: February 24, 2015

Publisher: Tantrum Books/Month9Books, LLC.

Author: Michael Gibney

Three brothers born to a once powerful King were abandoned at birth and cast out into the old world as orphans – alone and unaware of the other’s existence or their royal heritage.

In the new world, by order of the false King, three of the most lethal assassins are sent to kill the children before they come of age and avenge their father’s throne.

But when the brothers find one another, Benjamin, Tommy and Sebastian must resist the temptation of magic and power if they are to defeat the unspeakable evil that has threatened them since birth.

The Three Thorns is book one in an exciting children’s fantasy series called The Brotherhood and the Shield from debut author Michael Gibney.

ABOUT MICHAEL GIBNEY:

Michael Gibney began working in restaurants at the age of sixteen and assumed his first sous chef position at twenty-two. He ascended to executive sous chef at Tavern on the Green, where he managed an eighty-person staff. He has worked in the kitchens of Morgans Hotel Group, 10 Downing in Manhattan, and Governor in Brooklyn’s DUMBO, among many others. Over the course of his career, he has had the opportunity to work alongside cooks and chefs from many of the nation’s best restaurants, including Alinea, Per Se, Eleven Madison Park, Daniel, Jean Georges, Le Bernardin, Bouley, Ducasse, Corton, wd~50, and Momofuku.

In addition to his experience in the food service industry, Gibney also holds a BFA in painting from Pratt Institute and an MFA in nonfiction writing from Columbia University. He lives in Brooklyn, New York.